Baldwin County and surrounding areas will experience record lows in the coming days.
The National Weather Service in Mobile issued a notice on Jan. 13, stating, "Dangerously cold temperatures are anticipated to follow the front on Tuesday, especially into Tuesday night. Tuesday's highs are currently projected to range from the mid to upper 30s west of I-65 to the low to mid 40s for areas east of I-65."
On Tuesday evening, low temperatures are expected to plummet to between 10 and 20 degrees, accompanied by northward winds at about 5 to 10 miles per hour, resulting in windchills in the single digits. According to the National Weather Service, this region has not witnessed temperatures below 19 degrees since 2002.
“There is also the possibility with colder temperatures on those areas where they do get down to freezing Monday night, so any water that comes from the roads and such, we are expecting freezing on bridges, little pools of black ice on the roads,” NWS Meteorologist Stephen Miller said. “At this point, we are expecting those conditions in the north of the Gulf Coast, but Mother Nature sometimes will release curveballs, but we are not expecting that to be a problem for the south.”
With the record-low temperatures, Miller emphasized the importance of preparing for potential winter weather impacts by safeguarding pipes and ensuring a warm environment for pets and plants.
"Freezing temperatures are anticipated to reach a critical 20 degrees on the I-10 corridor, which serves as the baseline for what we term a hard freeze,” he said.
How to prepare your home for cold temperatures:
- Detach your water hose and insulate your outside faucets.
- Make sure water heater lines are insulated.
- Leave home heater on.
- Let hot and cold water drip from the faucet at night to prevent pipes from freezing.
This story will be updated as more warnings and safety announcements come in.
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